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New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP gears up to corner Congress in Assembly over Chinnaswamy stadium stampede and caste census
BENGALURU: Despite the Congress government in the state finding itself on a sticky wicket some BJP leaders feel they have not been able to corner the government. With the monsoon session of the Assembly likely to start from July 14, the BJP is preparing to raise the recent stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives during the RCB victory celebrations, new caste census and many more issues. The Congress government that has completed two years a few weeks ago is facing internal bickering, with many eying posts of chief minister and KPCC president. The BJP is planning protests and may consider approaching Governor with complaint. Some of the issues that the BJP leaders raised in the past few months include the government's mismanagement during the RCB victory celebrations, government taking up new caste census, thus not taking up the old reports for which government had spent over Rs 160 crore, and communal clashes in coastal Karnataka that also witnessed murders. Speaking to TNIE, a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity said that every time, they raised an issue to highlight the failure of the state government, there has been a parallel national development that had sidelined the BJP's protest. 'When we raised increase in price of commodities, there was Pahalgam attack. When we raised the stampede issue, there was air crash in Ahmedabad. We are not blaming the tragedies, but we are not able to take our issues to logical conclusion,' the leader said. MLC and Opposition Chief Whip in Upper House, N Ravikumar, said they will discuss the strategy for the session in their party meeting. 'Congress has failed to give good governance, maintain law and order, but is indulging in appeasement politics that has resulted in the killing of Hindu activists. We will raise these issues along with deaths due to stampede, wasting of tax payers' money on caste census and many more.'' he said.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka BJP MLC who suggested IAS officer had come from Pakistan gets interim relief against arrest
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to BJP MLC N Ravikumar, who has been booked for comments suggesting that a Muslim IAS officer who did not act in favour of a BJP leader during a Congress protest had 'come from Pakistan'. Ravikumar moved the court with a plea to quash the FIR registered against him on Monday, said his counsel, M Vinod Kumar. A vacation bench, which also ordered the issuance of notices to the state government and the complainant in the case, has posted the matter for hearing on June 6. The BJP MLC, who is accused of damaging national integrity, making deliberate statements to outrage religious feelings, and of atrocity against members of the SC/ST community, moved the high court after a special court did not grant him anticipatory bail on Wednesday. The special court is due to hear the anticipatory bail plea on Friday. The MLC also sought an interim stay on the investigation in the case filed under sections 197, 224, 299, 302, 351, and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 3(1)(R) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A social worker in Kalaburagi, Dattatraya Ikkalaki, filed a police complaint against Ravikumar on Monday over his remarks that Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum 'might have come from Pakistan' and the MLC's alleged remarks against Congress minister Priyank Kharge and the Dalit community to which the minister belongs. In videos that went viral on social media on May 25, the BJP MLC was heard allegedly saying the deputy commissioner's office at Kalaburagi had lost its independence. 'The DC madam is listening to what they (the Kharge family) say. I don't know whether she comes from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Listening to your applause, I think she might have come from Pakistan,' Ravikumar said during a BJP protest on May 24. The special court for elected representatives in Bengaluru heard the BJP MLC's interim bail application on Wednesday but ruled that the state government must be heard before passing any orders since the provisions of the SC/ST Act had also been cited in the FIR. The BJP MLC has stated that he had apologised for the remarks made against the IAS officer. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra also said that Ravikumar had apologised for the incident. 'This is a closed chapter,' he said.
India Today
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Congress seek Karnataka Governor action over BJP legislators' derogatory remarks
A delegation of Congress MLCs on Thursday submitted a formal complaint to Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, demanding legal and constitutional action against BJP MLCs N Ravikumar and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy for making derogatory statements against government officials and elected Congress delegation, led by ruling party leader of the Legislative Council NS Bhosaraju and Chief Whip in the Upper House Salim Ahmed, urged the Governor to take strict action over comments made by the two BJP leaders. N Ravikumar had insulted Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Tarannum by referring to her as a Pakistani, while Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, referred to by the Congress as a 'scoundrel', had compared Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge to a after meeting the Governor, NS Bhosaraju said, 'The members of the Legislative Council, N Ravikumar and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, spoke against the Constitution on the street. It is not appropriate to make such statements in a democratic system.' He further said, 'The BJP members, who call themselves 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', are working to attack society. They have made it a habit to make anti-Constitutional statements. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, who has made such statements that have drawn the attention of the Dalit community, should be expelled. Similarly, we have requested the Governor to take legal and constitutional action against Ravikumar, who made statements about the officer.'Chief Whip Salim Ahmed echoed the demand and said the delegation had submitted two complaints to the Governor. 'We have met the Governor in a delegation of Congress Legislative Council members and filed two complaints against Ravikumar and the Leader of Opposition in the Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy,' he further stated, 'Action should be taken against the scoundrel Narayanaswamy, who made irresponsible statements as the leader of the opposition party. The scoundrel has used unconstitutional words against Minister Priyank Kharge. Ravikumar, who said that the IAS officer came from Pakistan? Should be suspended. Both of them are sending the wrong message to society.' He added that the Governor had assured the delegation he would look into the Congress has also demanded the resignation of Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and the disqualification of N Ravikumar, claiming that their statements violate democratic norms and damage the integrity of public memorandum submitted at Raj Bhavan called for immediate action against both BJP MLCs. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Fouzia Tarannum? Karnataka IAS officer targeted by BJP MLC N Ravikumar's 'Pakistani' slur
Karnataka BJP MLC N Ravikumar sparked outrage by allegedly referring to IAS officer Fouzia Tarannum, the deputy commissioner of Kalaburagi, as a "Pakistani" during a protest. NEW DELHI: Fouzia Tarannum, the deputy commissioner of Kalaburagi, is a senior IAS officer known for her dedicated public service in Karnataka. On Monday, she became the target of a controversial remark by Karnataka BJP MLC and opposition chief whip N Ravikumar, who allegedly referred to her as a "Pakistani," sparking outrage across the IAS fraternity nationwide. The controversy erupted during a BJP protest on May 24, when N Ravikumar accused Tarannum of acting on the orders of the Congress party and said "She seems to have come from Pakistan." Later Monday, Ravikumar issued a statement, saying: "It was a slip of the tongue, and I made these intemperate remarks inadvertently. I express my regret. I have withdrawn these remarks." The comments sparked outrage, leading to an FIR being registered against the MLC at the Station Bazaar police station under multiple sections of the IPC and SC/ST Atrocities Act. The IAS Officers' Association swiftly condemned the remarks, demanding an unconditional apology. 'Fouzia Tarannum is an officer of exemplary record. Such baseless and irresponsible comments inflict severe mental trauma and amount to harassment in the line of duty,' said the association in a statement. Support poured in from across the country's civil services. Tripura's resident commissioner in Delhi, Sonal Goel, drew parallels with similar targeting of women officers, highlighting the alarming trend of questioning the loyalty and identity of public servants. Retired IPS officer M N Reddi and serving IAS officer L K Atheeq also expressed solidarity with Tarannum. A delegation led by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, submitting a memorandum demanding strict action against Ravikumar. In a statement, Ravikumar described his remarks as a 'slip of the tongue' and expressed regret, though many officials deemed the apology insufficient. Reacting to the backlash, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra claimed political vendetta, accusing the Congress government of using police machinery to intimidate the opposition.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is IAS officer Fouzia Tarannum? BJP MLC booked for ‘Pakistani' remark on Kalaburagi deputy commission
Bharatiya Janata Party MLC N Ravikumar in Karnataka was booked after a complaint was filed against him in connection with the alleged "Pakistani" remark he made against Kalaburagi deputy commissioner Fouzia Tarannum. N Ravikumar made the alleged comments during a BJP protest held on May 24, the police said on Tuesday. Expressing regret, he withdrew his statement, calling it a 'slip of tongue'. The IAS Officers' Association came to the support of Fouzia Tarannum. Ravikumar had accused the IAS officer of working on the orders of the Congress party and had reportedly said, 'She seems to have come from Pakistan.' A case against the BJP MLC was registered at the Station Bazaar police station and the matter is being investigated. Condemning the incident, the IAS Officers' Association demanded an "unconditional apology" from Kumar for his "irresponsible and unacceptable comments". "Fouzia Tarannum, IAS is an officer of impeccable integrity with an exemplary track record and deep dedication to public service and the State." "Remarks made by Ravi Kumar against her are baseless, unjustified, and entirely devoid of rationale. Such provocative and false statements not only malign the dignity of committed civil servants but also inflict severe mental trauma and amount to harassment in the line of duty," it said in a statement. The Association said it stands in firm solidarity with Tarannum and expressed its deep concern over this attempt to publicly undermine the reputation of an officer serving the people of Karnataka with sincerity, distinction and dedicated service in general. The BJP MLC in a statement expressed deep regret for his "intemperate but inadvertent" remarks made against the deputy commissioner. Chief minister Siddaramaiah said that Ravikumar's statement is 'intolerable', and it is something that creates hate. "So, the Police have booked a criminal case against him, I strongly condemn his statement," he told reporters. Taranum chose not to engage directly with the controversy, saying, 'I would rather let my work speak for itself,' and continued to focus on her administrative responsibilities.
